Jimmy Piersall

Two-time All-Star Jimmy Piersall was an artist with the glove in his 17-year career in the American League, mostly as a center fielder. An outstanding high school athlete in baseball and basketball, the 18-year-old Piersall was signed as a free agent by the Boston Red Sox. After two seasons in the minors, he came up to the parent club for a cup of coffee at the end of 1950. He made the Red Sox for good in the 1952 season, but it was then that his mental condition (bipolar disorder) manifested itself. Piersall's treatment for mental illness was detailed in his autobiography, Fear Strikes Out, which was made into a popular movie in 1957. Piersall, who won two Gold Gloves for his fielding excellence, played for Boston until 1958, after which he was traded to the Cleveland Indians. Traded to the Washington Senators for the 1962 season, he was traded to the New York Mets during their sophomore season during 1963, after which he was cut by manager Casey Stengel, upset by his running the bases backwards after hitting his 100th home run at the Polo Grounds. He caught on with his third team in '63, the Los Angeles/California Angels, for whom he appeared as a utility man through 1967. After his pro career was over, he worked for the Angels front office, as well as for the Oakland A's. He became a TV announcer with Harry Caray for the Chicago White Sox, but was fired in '81 for his criticisms of White Sox management. He worked as a minor league instructor through 1999. As of 2007, Piersall has a sports radio show in Chicago.